2002 Vauxhall Astra 1.6L Petrol · WU02 BZX

The Vauxhall Astra presented a valid MOT pass on 25 August 2021 at 123,084 miles, yet the same date shows an earlier failure with no defects recorded. This pattern repeats on 20 August 2020, where a fail preceded a pass at 118,594 miles without listed faults. Across the available history from August 2019 to August 2021, the tester recorded no advisories or defects on any pass. The maintenance trend appears stable in mechanical terms, though the unexplained fail/pass pairs indicate either administrative anomalies or non-mechanical compliance issues resolved same day. A buyer should treat the roadworthiness status as historically clean but unverified for the five years since that final test. Mileage accumulation sits low for a 2002 vehicle. The record shows 112,615 miles at the August 2019 test, rising to 118,594 by August 2020 and 123,084 by August 2021, an average of roughly 5,200 miles per year. Such restrained use suggests light commuting or prolonged storage periods. The absence of any MOT entry after August 2021, now nearly five years ago relative to today's date of 16 July 2026, implies the car has either been off the road or evaded statutory testing. Sparse records limit insight into consumable replacement cycles. Given the age and dormant period, a physical inspection must prioritise structural integrity and corrosion on sills, subframes and suspension mounting points. The tester never flagged suspension bushes or coil springs, but 24-year-old Vauxhalls commonly suffer perished rubber and fractured spring seats. We would examine brake discs for lip formation and binding calipers after standing, alongside exhaust emissions for catalytic converter degradation. Verify the odometer against service history to confirm the low mileage is genuine. Previous owners clearly attended annual testing but the repeated fail without recorded defects points to slipshod paperwork or minor non-safety failures. The clean defect list does not equate to fault-free condition after five untested years. A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic remains essential before any road use.